Sean McVay has been one of the most successful coaches since being hired by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. Brandon Staley and Zac Taylor — who both were assistants under McVay at one point — recalled what made them intrigued by the idea of working with McVay in Los Angeles.
Following the departure of Wade Phillips, Staley was among the candidates to become the Rams’ defensive coordinator ahead of the 2020 season. Staley remembers the meeting with McVay vividly as the two spent 12 hours together.
Buy Rams Tickets“In 12 hours, it was like we had known each other our entire lives,” Staley said recently in an interview with Jeff Howe of The Athletic. “In 12 hours, we established a connection that very few can do in that amount of time. We knew, after 12 hours, we would be in each other’s lives forever, and this is going to be really special. It’s on. We know what we’re heading toward. It’s one of those days I’m not going to forget. I was only there (with the Rams for) 11 months, but it may have been 11 years.”
In Staley’s lone season with the Rams in 2020, the defense would rank No. 1 in terms of yards allowed and points allowed per game. Staley would then be named the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.
Meanwhile, Taylor was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Cincinnati in 2016 before McVay called him for a potential job offer. Taylor, who is now the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, recalls getting 24 hours to accept the job and the ‘effect’ that McVay has on those around him.
“And I just took the job,” Taylor told The Athletic. “But he has that effect on you, where you feel like you’ve known him forever, and you want to be around his energy. You want to follow him and learn from him. He called me, offered me a job. I was shocked, didn’t really know him. He gave me 24 hours, but then one hour later, he calls to ask if I’ve made my decision. It was crystal clear in my mind what I was going to do. I was going to go work for Sean McVay, whether he was coaching in L.A. or coaching on the moon. Just based on one conversation, I was in. I think that’s the effect he has on the whole organization, the players, all the coaches who have come through there, the fan base. He’s contagious that way.”
Assistants who work under McVay have all had glowing remarks to say about him. Staley and Taylor are both assistants who have benefitted from being around McVay, and they’ll always remember their first interactions with the head coach of the Rams.
